Liquid separation from adipose tissue

Abstract

Extracting or removing at least a portion of liquid phase from a whole sample using a centrifugal force is disclosed. Centrifugal forces are used to apply pressure to a whole sample and drive a liquid phase through a passage region that can be perforated and/or porous and maintain a drier portion within a separation container. The whole sample can be dried, which includes a remaining sample where excess or a selected amount of liquid is removed. Direct access to the separation container or area can then be made to provide for an efficient withdrawal of the drier material from the separation container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid reducing system, comprising:
 a container configured to rotate around an axis of rotation and having an inner wall having an inner surface to contain a whole adipose tissue sample, wherein the inner wall includes a first section where the inner surface is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and a second section extending from the first section where the inner surface in the second section extends non-parallel to the axis of rotation to define a sump in the second section, wherein the container is positioned within an outer structure to limit access to the container while rotating the container around the axis of rotation; 
 a plurality of throughbores formed through the first section of the inner wall extending from the inner surface to an outer surface in a perforated portion of the inner wall; 
 a porous material covering at least a first plurality of the throughbores; and 
 an access port through the outer structure operable to allow extraction of a drier portion of the whole adipose sample from the second section within the container after drying the whole adipose tissue sample. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid reducing system of  claim 1 , wherein the throughbores have a first average cross section opening greater than a second average cross section opening defined by the porous material. 
     
     
       3. The fluid reducing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first average cross section opening is at least two times the second average cross section opening, wherein the second average cross section opening is about 0.015 inches or less. 
     
     
       4. The fluid reducing system of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material is at least one of a woven fabric, a felt, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The fluid reducing system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of throughbores are a non-limiting structure for removing fluid from the whole adipose tissue sample. 
     
     
       6. A fluid reducing system comprising:
 a container assembly having a first inner container having an inner wall with throughbores formed in the inner wall extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of the inner wall, and a second outer container adjacent to the outer surface of the inner wall, wherein a first wall surface of the second outer container is the same as the outer surface of the inner wall; 
 a top extending over and covering the first inner container and the second outer container; 
 a tube extending through the top and to a central depression in the first inner container; and 
 a felt material positioned in the first inner container to cover the throughbores; 
 wherein a first whole sample is positioned in the first inner container and the tube is operable to be used to withdraw a drier material from the central depression; 
 wherein the central depression is a sump defined by the inner surface of the inner wall; 
 wherein a fluid from the whole sample must pass through the felt material first and then the throughbores to enter the second outer container. 
 
     
     
       7. The fluid reducing system of  claim 6 , wherein the throughbores have a first average cross section opening greater than a second average cross section opening defined by the felt material. 
     
     
       8. The fluid reducing system of  claim 7 , wherein the first average cross section opening is at least two times the second average cross section opening, wherein the second average cross section opening is about 0.015 inches or less. 
     
     
       9. The fluid reducing system of  claim 6 , wherein the second outer container has a second outer container volume;
 wherein an outer wall of the second outer container is operable to be positioned relative to the first inner container to define the second outer container volume; 
 wherein the volume of the second outer container limits the volume of liquid removed from the first whole sample positioned in the first inner container. 
 
     
     
       10. The fluid reducing system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an outer housing including a member operable with the tube to access the central depression in the first inner container from a position exterior to the outer housing. 
 
     
     
       11. A fluid reducing system comprising:
 a container assembly having a first inner container having an inner wall with throughbores formed in the inner wall extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of the inner wall, and a second outer container adjacent to the outer surface of the inner wall, wherein a first wall surface of the second outer container is the same as the outer surface of the inner wall; 
 a top extending over and covering the first inner container and the second outer container; 
 a tube extending through the top and to a central depression in the first inner container; and 
 a woven material positioned in the first inner container to cover the throughbores; 
 wherein a first whole sample is positioned in the first inner container and the tube is operable to be used to withdraw a drier material from the central depression; 
 wherein the central depression is a sump defined by the inner surface of the inner wall; 
 wherein a fluid from the first whole sample must pass through the woven material first and then the throughbores to enter the second outer container. 
 
     
     
       12. A fluid reducing system, comprising:
 a separation container having:
 an exterior wall that is substantially parallel about a central axis of the separation container; 
 an annular collection basin formed between an inner wall spaced towards the central axis from the exterior wall; 
 a passage formed in a perforated portion of the inner wall through the inner wall from an inner surface to an outer surface of the inner wall; and 
 a porous filter material covering the perforated portion of the inner wall; wherein the perforated portion of the inner wall is substantially parallel to the central axis of the separation container; and 
 
 an exterior housing that houses the separation container; 
 wherein the exterior wall is non-parallel to the central axis of the separation container at an angled portion of the separation container separate from the perforated portion and a portion of the inner wall is parallel to the exterior wall away from the perforated portion of the inner wall that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the separation container. 
 
     
     
       13. The fluid reducing system of  claim 12 , wherein the passage of the perforated portion of the inner wall includes a plurality of throughbores formed through the inner wall having a first average cross-section opening greater than a second average cross-section opening defined by the porous filter material. 
     
     
       14. The fluid reducing system of  claim 12 , further comprising,
 an inner lid fit over the exterior wall to seal the separation container including the annular collection basin; and 
 a withdrawal tube extending through the inner lid to a central depression in the separation container. 
 
     
     
       15. The fluid reducing system of  claim 14 , the withdrawal tube extends into both the exterior housing and the separation container. 
     
     
       16. The fluid reducing system of  claim 12 , wherein the porous filter material is positioned either adjacent the inner surface of the perforated portion or adjacent the outer surface of the perforated portion.